Burial casket



May 5, 1931- vA. G. HARMs 1,803,470

BUR'IAL GASKET Filed April 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

4J 4] 49 fhaeafzjaf" Meri Jr/m A. GQHARMS BURIAL GASKET May 5, 1931.

, 1927 5 Sheets-SheetA 2 Filed April 18 @y @www A. G HARD/5S BURIAL GASKET May 5, 1931.

Filed April 18 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @l fafa fr Patented May n5, 1931 UNITED STATES .ALBERT G. HARMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLIOIS BURIAL casema:Y

Application fnedfAprn 18,

This invention relates to burial caskets and the object thereof is to provide a novel and practical construction by which the corpse can be convenientlyrais'ed or reposed in an inclined position for placing the body on view. The' invention embodies a casket having an adjustable support which may be disposed in ani inclined position to raise the'headi and body ofthe deceased person,the same being preferably in the form'of a false'bottom having means for adjusting the bottom'v at the head end of the casket,'either by the raising of the panel or top closure of thecasket, or

independently thereof and which maybe made in the :form ofga spring bottom adapted to support a mattress upon which the body is reposed, and in which provision is made; for canting or tilting the body'of a large or stout person, so that the bodymayrbe properly accommodated in thecasket and-'tilted slightly towardithe side from which it is viewed.

Other objects and advantages will beap parent as the description proceeds.

In theaccompanying drawings A Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of a casket having a false bottom and means for raising or'lowering the same uponopening and closing ofthe panel. 1` j y Fig. 2 is a similarview ofa centrally fulcrumed 'or false bed bottom having a` worm for operating the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 2. f f l,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the Vfalse or bed bottom. I. f y

Fig. 5 is a Asectional' view taken onthe line 5-5'of Figure 4, f* v I Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are'view-s similar to Figures V1 and 2 of other forin'siof the invention showing other Vmeans for operating the false bottom, and

Figs. 11 and 12 are horizontal `and vertical sectional views of other supporting means.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figures 1 and 3, the casket 1 has a bottom 2 and a sectional molding 3, the front portion 4 of which is hinged Vas at 5 to drop down over. theV side, with the usual shirred lining (not shown) if desired. The

an apertured bracket 18. The other arm of .the lever 15 is connected by a link 19 to the i bottom 13 pivotally by a link 21 to permit the 192i'. serial No. 184,463.

lend section 6 is hinged at 7 to swing outwardly as shown in Figure 1, while the back section 8 is hinged at 9 to swing backwardly to an :inclined position and may have the top panel 10 forming part of the closure withV the molding hinged theretoas shown at 11 or rigidly attached thereto in a manner common in the art. The top panel may be formed in one or two sections andthe invention may also be applied to a drop side casket which is alsowell known. The panel is adaptedto be held in an upright position by'a tape or cord 1)2dwhen the casketris open forviewing the o y. Y l l In accordance with my method or system and apparatus for the raising and lowering of the head and shoulders of a corpse in a coiiiln casket, or burial case, there is provided a false bottom 13 which is disposed on the b0-ttom2 and may extend the full length 70 ofthe casket or part of the length, preferably over one-half, owing tothe factthat theaverage corpse will not bend at the waist. The

Vfalse bottom may behingedto the bottom 2 as indicatedat 14, intermediately or at the foot end of the bottom of the casket and the `opposite or head end is provided with means for adjusting or raising `or lowering the same so as to allow the body to be placed higher fora better view and effect without the head of the corpse interfering with the closing of the casket lid Vand also adjustable to the de- 'sired height without requiring the insertion of devices which must be later removed.

lAs shown in Figure 1, a bell crank lever 15 is pivoted to one side of the casket as indicated at 16 and has one arm connected by a link 17 tothe lid or panel 10 as by means of similarly extending arm of a bell crank arm `20 and the arm corresponding to the arm of the lever 15 to Which the link 17 is connected has connection fromY itsfree end to the false bottom 13 to cant or tilt to the opposite side or having a. brace connection extending across the width of said bottom to or near the opposite side suitably arranged to cause l the false bottom to be raised or lowered unitoggle or toggles.

formly at opposite sides. Thus when the lid or panel is open the false bottom will be raised to the desired height to support the head and upper portion ot the body of the corpse in a reclining position, as well as raising the head for a better view. Then the lid or panel is closed, the false bottom will be lowered by the rocking of the levers as indicated in solid and dotted lines respectively in Figure l to lower the false bottom so that the lid can be closed without interference.

In the form shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, the `false or adjustable bottom may be in the form of a bed frame or bottom 22 on which a mattress 23 may be placed. The open frame may be of angle iron or otherwise, and has a spring bottom 24 includingstri-ps 25 with springs 26 connectingthe ends thereof to the ends of the frame or may be of other suitable construction. The bottom 22 is supported on a central tulcrum 27 preferably in the form of a sheet metal trough or cradle 28 having a bottom portion stamped and doubled on itself intermediately to form the fulcru'm 27 transversely of the casket to rest upon the bottom 2 and the ends are directed upwardly as indicated at 29 `tor attachment to the sides ot the bed bottom frame as shown more particularly in Figure 5. Coil springs 30 are arranged between the bottom of the trough 28 and the strips 25 of the bed bottom to accommodate'and give tothe body at this point, so that the body wil-l be pnoperly accommodated and assume a desirable posture.

In order to actuate the false or bed botto-m according to this form, one end of the `bottom is provided with a nut 31 engaged on` a screw 32 suitably jouinailed in rbea-rings 33 near the top and bottom at the head end of the casket. A shaft 34- is` journaled through the head end `and geared to the screw as indicated at 35 as by means of bevel gears and operated by a handle 36, so. that thev bottom 22 may be raised or lowered or held in `adjusted position. This constructiomof course,

can be applied toa-ny ytype of false bottom.

In Figure 6 ot' the drawings.r the false bottom 37 is mounted on a tulcruni or pivot 38 resting on the bottom 2 intermediately and a toggle 39 is arranged between the alse bottom and the bottom of the casket at the head end and held normally ina "folded po- 'sition by a spring 40 `shown as a contractile coil spring connected to the bottom 2 `and the pivot joint or joints ot the sections ot the @ne or two of said `tog.- glesmay be providedand extending fromthe opposite side of the joint or jointsare cables 41 which ypass around side pulleys 42 and` 43 4mounted on the inside of the head end of the casket'near the bottoni and near the top, the -cable being subsequently extended through said end and anchored to a bracket 44. In this manner the V@false bottom may be readily raised in any desired adjusted position or lowered.

In Figure 7 of the drawings the false bottom 13 has a cable or braided cord 45 connected thereto at the head end and passed around a pulley 46 from which it is extended through the end and anchored to the bracket or tie member 44 as previously described.

In Figure 8 of the drawings a pneumatic or rubber air chamber 47 may be provided beneath the head end of the false bottom 13 adapted to be inflated through a valved tube 48 extended through the head end preferably near the top. This chamber is adapted to be inflated to cause it to expand and hold the false bottom at the desired height but when deflated it will collapse and permit the false bottom to be lowered.

In Figure 9 of the 'd1awings,the false bottom is connected by a link 49 to a point on a disk 50 in the manner of a crank, which disk is inthe Jform of a worm wheel pivoted or journa led aXi ally at 51. A worm.52 ismpmount* ed on the inner endof a shaft 53 journaled in the head end of thecasketand :adapted to be turned by a handle `or crank 54 so as to turn the worm gear and by its connection. with the false bottom eccentrical'ly through the me .diumof the 4link 49 to raiseor lower the false bottom.

In Figure 1050i the drawings, the false 'bottom has attached tothe head end thereofone or two hangers `55 wit'hhandle portions 56 and apertures?? toV be engaged over .a series of vertically spaced pegs or angular projections 58 extending inwardly trom the head end 'of the casket `or mounted en .a plate 59 secured lto said end.. In -this case the handle portions 56'a.re grasped. tor-aise or `lower .the false bottom, andby disposing the apertures 57 over the Vpegs or angular supports 58, adjustment of 'the false bottom may `be se cured or it `may `be `.lowered tothe bottoni2 of the casket. One of these ldevices may be provided centrally or one at either side, so that the false .or Imovable bottom may bearranged in a` canted, tilted or transversely inclined position slanting tooneside, or toward that side from which the `body is viewed. This is especially desirable in .accommodating a stout person.

In Figures 11 and t2 another supporting means is shown in which notched plates 6@ are hinged-as at 61 tothe sides of the casket and means provi-ded on` the talsebottom,` such `asthe hangers without the apertures. 57-to raise the false bottom to the desi-red height, when the hinged plates are swung inwardly from positions against the inner facesot ythe sides ot the casket to positionsat rightaugrles thereto, so that the side edges ot the false bottom will lit in the notches `62 .toI secure the proper inclination. Obviously, .by holdking the false bottom in afsu-pported position by the hanger 55, the plates or notcheasufp ports 60 may be swung outwardly against the inner faces of the sides of the casket to permit the false bottom to be lowered.

lVith a device such as described, the false bottom of thecasket may be raised or inclined to dispose the head of the body in the most eifective position for view or inclined transversely of the casket toward the side from which the body is viewed and to accommodate a stout person, as heretofore described. The false or movable bottom may be made of wood, metal, wire, or other ma-V terial strong enough to support the corpse so that it can be raised or lowered or left in any desired position.

While I have shown several means of accomplishingV the objects of the invention, it 1s lto be understood that other forms may be provided and that modiiications maybe resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention so long as the same do not depart from the scope of the device as claimed. Y

I claim as my invention: f

1. The combination with a casket having a top closure, a spring bottom fulcrumed upon the bottom of the casket and including a spring structure adapted to support a mattress, and a depressed'centralportion over the fulcrum and supporting said spring structure, and means at the head end of the casket and co-operating with the adjacent end of the bed bottom to raise or lower the same and hold it in an adj usted'position.

2. The combination with a casket having a top closure, of a bed bottom ulcrumed y upon the bottom of the casket and including a spring structure adapted to support a mattress, a depending central portion over the fulcrum, and means for adjusting said bed bottom about its fulcrum relative to the casket. f

3. The combination with a casket having a top closure, of a bed bottom fulcrumed upon the bottom of the casket and including a spring struc-ture adapted to support a mat tress and a depending central portion over the fulcrum, and means at one end vof the Y casket co-operatingwith theV adjacent end of the bed bottom to raise lor lower the 'same and hold it in an adjusted position.

4. In a device of the class described, a casket having a'relatively stili? but warpable frame, and has a transverse row of coil springs intermediate its ends. i

8. In a device of the class described, a casket having `a pvoted lid and having a false bottom pivoted therein on a transverse axis,

oted, and aplurality of coil springs seated in said depressed portion.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said depressed portion is disposed substantially midway between the ends of said false bottom, whereby the buttocks of a body restsaid springs. y

' 11. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a false bottom fulcrumed relative to said casket on a transverse axis, said false bottom being sufiiciently stiff to support a mattress or the like and at the same time being warpable whereby said bottom may be canted, and means for adjusting the elevation of said false bottom relative to said casket about said axis.

ALBERT G. I-IARMS.

false bottom pivotedto the casket on a transverse axis, and means for securing said false bottom in a position of angular and of canted adjustment with respect to said axis. n

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said false bottom comprises a warpable frame.

6. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein Y said false bottom comprises a warpable spring supporting frame.

7 A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said false bottom comprises a warpable spring lng on said false bottom will be disposed over 

